Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lewguitar
  • Start date Start date
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

Yeah, I love my Vox Valvetronix AD60 head on top of a high quality cabinet. Of course it doesn't have the same girth of sound that a tube Vox has, but it's got about 99 more tones to choose from, plus all the FX. The OD models is what really sets it off. They help to add the necessary sparkle to the decent AC-30, Tweed, and Blackface models.

I'm actually excited to see these Chinese made Vox tube amps, though. I don't like the trend of outsourcing amp companys to China, but I gotta admit, it'd be nice to have a new AC-30 for $1000, and even better to have a used one in about a year or two for $700.
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

Gearjoneser said:
Yeah, I love my Vox Valvetronix AD60 head on top of a high quality cabinet. Of course it doesn't have the same girth of sound that a tube Vox has, but it's got about 99 more tones to choose from, plus all the FX. The OD models is what really sets it off. They help to add the necessary sparkle to the decent AC-30, Tweed, and Blackface models.

I'm actually excited to see these Chinese made Vox tube amps, though. I don't like the trend of outsourcing amp companys to China, but I gotta admit, it'd be nice to have a new AC-30 for $1000, and even better to have a used one in about a year or two for $700.

I hate it that so much is being made in China. China is one of the most repressive governments on the face of the planet and we've granted them most favored nation trading status. Chinese leaders have no interest in reforming China and we should boycott China and attempt to get them to correct thier repressive human rights policies. There are thousands of innocent and heroic people in Chinese prisons who have done nothing except critisize the Chinese government or practice religion or espouse a belief in God or a Higher Power. We should not be trading with such a repressive government. In truth, we don't actually trade our manufactured products with China: we send our raw and recycled materials over there (cotten, paper, steel, etc) and buy it back in the form of Chinese made TV sets and goods to be sold at WalMart so Walmart can send our jobs to China and close US manufacturing facilities and put US citizens out of work while destroying small business in every town and city they build a new WalMart in. :saeek:

I hope that wasn't to political. It's not really a Republican vs Democrat thing...more about human rights and walking your talk than anything else.

Lew
 
Last edited:
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

So, Lew, am I to assume you won't buy anything from Vox any longer? haha!

If the new ones kick butt, I might have to spring for a head.
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

Scott_F said:
So, Lew, am I to assume you won't buy anything from Vox any longer? haha!

If the new ones kick butt, I might have to spring for a head.

:laugh2: Well...I've stopped buying new Celestions. Used UK made Celestions only...no Chinese. As for Vox, I'm looking for a UK made one.

I think it's our moral obligation. I avoid Chinese made products and refuse to carry any in our store. And I have never ONCE shopped at WalMart. Not even once. :)

Lew
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

Lew, I agree with you about China. Maybe someday when we can dump all the lawyers who burden American companies with so many garbage lawsuits and red tape, our companies will find it more appealing to stay here. As for our relations with China, it's a catch 22, because we'll NEVER be able to change an old country/culture like that, but by keeping commercial relations with them we give them zero motivation to ever become our enemy, even into the distant future. I'm with ya on buying a UK Vox. The used market will never run out of AC-30 Reissues.
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

I've got a modeler that nails it completely! :lmao::lmao::lmao:
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

That's an intereting thread. Anyone played with the new handwired http://www.voxamps.co.uk/heritagecollection/index.asp amps? No tremolo, no reverb, no standby switch. I'm wondering if they sound as good as they look and if they have less reliability issues like the PCB models.

1st, this is the oldest thread I've ever seen make a come back!

2nd, the new HW Vox amps are a joke IMO...same junk parts from the PCB models handwired onto a blank piece of PCB with turrets mounted to it and based on the 2 or 3 I've seen on the inside not soldered very cleanly.

3rd, and this is a biggie...Vox reliability issues have NOTHING to do wiht them being PCB...ALL Vox amps have reliability issues...old, new, handwired, pcb, doesn't matter...it's part of the Vox package.
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

I was actually thinking about trying to finnigle picking this head up. Hows it look?;

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=482622X

228797.jpg




EDIT- how "Voxish" can a garden variety EL84 amp get by virtue of its same tubes and speakers??


2nd edit- SOMEONE pleaaaaaaase tell me *QUICK* !!( CAUSE IM ABOUT TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THIS MOFO ).
 
Last edited:
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

The Vox sound has almost nothing to do with EL84's IMO but it does have a lot to do with Alnico Celestion speakers but the biggest part is the circuit.
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

The Vox sound has almost nothing to do with EL84's IMO but it does have a lot to do with Alnico Celestion speakers but the biggest part is the circuit.

What tubes are considered 'the' vox AC30 tubes. And if I were going to try and buy one now, scanning ebay, musicians friend, etc. what would be the one to look for? Like, are the currrent new ones good or do they have major quality issues? Should I be looking for an early 2000's model?
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

i think the vox sound does have a fair amount to do with the el84, an ac50 or 100 doesnt sound anything like a 30 to my ears. the speakers and circut have alot to do with it obviously but the ac30 has lots of qualitys i associate with the el84.
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

I have an AC30 RI—one with blue alnicos—but I'm not 100% sure the year of manufacture. How do I find out? I bought it new in (I think it was) 2004.

- Keith
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

@ Lew- I don't know much about the internals of the Vox AC HW series, but a friend of mine has 1 and it sounds de-lish when playing through a Duncan Jazz in the neck position of a GLP.

I've heard of Vox's of all eras being unreliable so how about a Tony Bruno Underground 30, which from what Jeremy was telling me, has the Vox AC tone but coupled with boutique build quality?

http://www.brunoamps.com/underground30.html
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

ALong with stuff like the Bruno amps how are JMI Amplication resissues of VOX's? Reliability.
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

i played one of the ac30cc's today

dunno what speakers it had but it was like $1400 so i assume blues

sounded AWESOME
 
Re: Vox AC-30...who here knows alot about these?

I've got one of the newer Voxes with the cheaper Wharfedale speakers. The thing does sound awesome. I didn't have the extra 400 bucks at the time to get the blues. I've been satisfied with mine for sure, especially after putting in some Sovteks in the power side, and USA 60's GE 12ax7s. They are great.
 
Back
Top